An exotic species could soon be creating a buzz in mainland Australia by helping boost fruit and vegetable crop yields.

The Federal Government is considering whether to introduce the humble bumblebee, which can be used as an efficient pollinator in hothouses.

A study for the federal agency Horticulture Australia found the insect had little impact on native plant species in Tasmania.

Bumblebees arrived in Hobart in 1992 from New Zealand, and spread rapidly.

Dwarfing the honeybee, the fat and furry 20mm bumblebee does not produce honey. However, working as a pollinator it can make plants flower or set seed much more abundantly. ");document.write("

advertisement

");
}
}
// -->

The Australian Hydroponic and Greenhouse Association has applied to Horticulture Australia to examine the feasibility of bringing bumblebees into the mainland for pollination of hothouse crops such as tomatoes, strawberries and capsicums.

The association president, Graeme Smith, said: "None of us wants another cane toad. We want to make sure it's not a problem."

Mr Smith said bumblebees gave northern hemisphere hothouse growers an edge. They could add about 1 per cent to production costs, but deliver a 28 per cent improvement in yield.

Horticulture Australia's three-year, $240,000 study looked at the impact of bumblebees on Tasmania's native flora and fauna, and their possible impact on mainland Australia.

It found some weeds such as the tree lupin produced more viable seed with bumblebees, while others such as the scotch thistle decreased their seed set.

"Our initial impression of the report is that it is not the concern that some conservationists would have us believe," Mr Smith said. "Generally speaking, it looks quite positive."

He said the association would consider the report in detail before deciding to go ahead with its application to introduce the bees, or seek further research.

However, conservationists are calling for extreme caution, and some barriers are already being erected against the bumblebee.

The Victorian Government has listed bumblebees as a potential threat under the state's Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act.

Also, scientific advisers to the Federal Environment Minister, David Kemp, are about to determine whether it should be listed as a Key Threatening Process. The Threatened Species Scientific Committee said there was insufficient evidence to say yet whether it was a threat, but it would re-assess the issue after considering Horticulture Australia's report.

The Australian Conservation Foundation also said the history of introduced species suggested that utmost caution should be applied.